Friday, August 14, 2009

Name: Bench BallNumber of players: 15 - 40Age: 10+Necessary equipment: Two low benches (long enough for the whole team to stand on at once), 4-12 balls (any size) depending on the number of players

How to play:

Have a playing area that has a central line. Place the benches 5 - 10 metres from the central line, facing each other.

Split the players into two teams.

One player from each team gets chosen to stand on a bench, facing each other.

The rest of the team stands on the opposite side of the playing area. Team members can not cross the centre line.

Players take it in turns to throw balls to the player on the bench. If the "bench" player catches a ball, the player who threw the ball joins that player on the bench, and may also catch balls from their teammates.

At the same time, players on the ground may defend the passes made to the opposing team's "bench" players.

Determine the playing area. A basketball-court-sized area is good for up to 20 players; more than that you may need more space.

Use cones to mark out two 2 metre x 2 metre squares, one at each end of the playing area. (Larger squares if playing area is larger.) The squares will need to be at least 1 metre from the edge of the playing area. (Alternatively, you can use pre-marked spaces on the playing area, such as the small circles on a basketball court.)

Divide the players up into two teams. Give one team bibs/sashes so you can see which team is which.

Each team starts on one side of the playing area. The ball is thrown into the centre of the playing area by the referee to begin the game. The aim of the game is to get the ball into your playing area without your team being tagged.

Rules

If you are tagged while holding the ball, it is handed over to the other team.

If you kick the ball, or touch it with your feet in any way, it is handed over to the other team.

If the ball is handed over, the other team must move at least 1 metre away from the person who is taking the ball. (This is to avoid them being tagged immediately.)

If the ball is thrown out of the playing area, the other team throws it in again from the point at which it went out.

Players may drop the ball and pick it up again, or throw it in the air and catch it again.

A player can only be tagged if s/he is holding the ball. To avoid a tag, a player may throw the ball into the air and then catch it again.

A team is awarded one point if they get the ball into their team's scoring area. To do this, it must be held by a player with two hands, and with both feet in the scoring area.

If necessary, the number of defenders and/or attackers in the scoring area can be limited.

Name: People to PeopleNumber of players: 15+Age: 5+Necessary equipment: none

How to Play

Players starts in partners, with one person in the centre. (The facilitator may have to step in as this game requires an odd number of players.)

The person in the centre calls out instructions such as "back to back", "elbow to knee", "head to shoulder".

The partners must carry out the instruction by placing the two named body parts together. (Obviously there is potential here for inappropriate combinations; the maturity of the players needs to be considered!)

After a few instructions, the player in the centre calls, "people to people!"

All players must run around the circle to find a new partner. The player in the middle must also find a partner.

The player who ends up without a partner stands in the centre and begins the process again.

This game is self-replicating and generally requires little input from the facilitator. It can be used as an excellent 'get to know you' game, where players must introduce themselves to their new partner before the next round can begin.

Thursday, May 7, 2009

Name: The Blanket Name GameNumber of players: 10-20Age: 5+Necessary equipment: A blanket or sheet

How to play

Ensure that the group has had a chance to learn each other's names.

Split the group into two teams.

Two people need to hold the blanket up so that the two teams cannot see each other.

Each team chooses one member to come to the front of the group.

When both teams are ready, the helpers drop the blanket.

The first person to say the name of the person on the other team wins.

The person who loses must then join the opposing team.

The blanket is held up again and teams select a new player.

Play continues until one team has no players left.

This is a great game for learning names, and can be played multiple times so that everyone gets a chance to learn others' names. For groups that already know each other's names, the game is more about the speed of response.

Set up a playing area with a bench at either end, and a line of cones down the middle.

Split the group up into two teams.

Each team stands one one side of the playing area.

One member of each team stands on the bench opposite their team's area.

Each team is given an even number of balls.

Teams aim to throw their balls to their teammate on the bench, while at the same time defending to stop the other team from getting balls to their team member.

For each ball they catch, the team scores one point.

The player must remain on the bench when catching; if they fall of in the process the point does not count.

Play ends after a certain number of points or a certain amount of time.

Larger teams may wish to have multiple players on the bench, and use longer benches.

Variations

Bench Team BallInstead of scoring points, when the bench player catches the ball, the player who threw the ball joins them on the bench. The game stops when one team gets all their players onto the bench.

End BallInstead of benches, a row of cones is placed at each end of the playing area. This variation is safer if the players are not confident on the bench. It also gives players more space to move around.

Team A must make a line and pass the ball down their team, over-under-over-under (i.e. the first person passes the ball over their head, the second person under their legs, the third person over their head etc.).

At the same time, the second team must get into a group (Team B), and nominate one person to run around the group as many times as possible.

Every time Team B's player runs around the group, they get one point. (No half-points or part points.)

When Team A gets the ball to the last person in line, they call out, "stop" and throw the ball as far way from Team B as possible.

Team B must then run to get the ball and start the under-over pattern, while Team A gets into a group and starts a person running around.

Play finishes when one group reaches a set number of runs, eg. 21.

This game is great fun, and somehow enchanced with the use of a rubber chicken rather than a ball. Rubber chickens are especially good as they are easier to hold on to. It is also an excellent game for teamwork, as no-one gets out, so teams must work together with all of their players.

There are a number of words that are used when describing game play. Here are a few of the common ones.

Offense/Offence: The team that has the ballAttack: Same as OffenceDefence: The team that does not have the ballReferee (Ref)/Umpire: The person in charge of the game (often has a whistle!)Self-Replicating: A game in which no player is permanently out, i.e. there are ways to get back in if you are outSelf-Managing: A game that does not require a refereeIt or In: A person or people who have to chase or tag other people